© Breaking The Lines 2017-2021. All Rights Reserved.

The Gareth Southgate Show: Paradoxical and Yet Successful

July 8, 2024
Euro 2024

Gareth Southgate is a name which brings about vitriol and begrudging respect across the shores of England. Many utter his name with disrespect and disdain, cursing him for not maximising the abundance of talent he has at his disposal and producing objectively turgid performances, especially at these Euros. 

 

But there is a silent majority, which holds the England manager in high regard. After all, he is the most successful England manager since Sir Alf Ramsey. He has taken England to heights that Terry Venables and even the great Sir Bobby Robson couldn’t ascend to by taking England to the final of a major tournament at Euro 2021. But, it seems he will not be revered to the same extent that these previous managers are. 

 

The reason may be the Southgate experience. Which is made up of three parts. Before, during and after a match day. Before the game against Switzerland, the internet was abuzz with the news that he would finally switch to a three-man defence and play Liverpool right-back extraordinaire Trent-Alexander Arnold right wing-back. The Scouse defender’s standing amongst England fans has changed from tones of disrespect to pariah status with his ongoing exclusion from the first 11.

 

 

Then, before the game, the lineup came out with Southgate opting for Kieran Trippier and benching the Liverpool man. Cue the uproar. Social media again called him clueless, stupid and every other disrespectful adjective under the sun. Southgate clearly has no trust in a Premier League and Champions League Right-Back who has shattered the mould of what a conventional right back looks like attackingly. This is because of his distrust of the Liverpool man’s defensive abilities.

 

Yet, the ex-England international has remained steadfast in his confidence in Kieran Trippier. His trust in his lieutenant is unshakable for he is a soldier who has been consistent for him since 2018 on that magical run to the World Cup Semi-Final. Trippier has played left-back and has performed as expected from a heavily right-footed right-back, with the ball being circulated backwards whenever he has the ball. 

 

However, you cannot blame the Newcastle man for this. You have to blame Southgate for not playing him in his correct position, utilising him incorrectly and picking only one left-footed defender in the whole squad, Luke Shaw, who was not fit to play any game until the last 30 minutes of the Switzerland game. Amateurish is the nicest word you can use to describe these squad choices.

 

When the game started it was clear to see it was Trippier who was playing left wing-back and Bukayo Saka played right wing-back. It proved a shrewd move with Saka tormenting Switzerland’s unfortunate left-wing back Michel Aebischer all game. But again, the likes of Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham failed to sparkle and England failed to create any chances of note.

 

Florian Wirtz: Bayer Leverkusen’s Invincible Prince

 

The fact that this was the side’s second-best first half behind their first 20 minutes against Serbia spoke volumes. The second half was England conceding territory to Switzerland and Southgate’s refusal to make changes according to the game’s state. In many big games, he has been accused of not taking the game by the scruff of its neck. Letting big games pass him by and waiting far too long before adapting. 

 

When Switzerland’s Breel Embolo scored in the 75th minute to make it 1-0, it triggered memories of Croatia in 2018, Italy in 2021 and France in 2022 where England would crash out again against good opposition. The Southgate experience peaks during a game as you are left in a sense of astonishment at his game management and begin to curse him and wish for him to leave England as soon as the game ends. 

 

This was until Bukayo Saka curled in one of his trademark curled shots from outside the box in the 80th minute to equalise. A poor performance bailed out by a piece of individual magic? You could say yes. But could this be because of an environment he has cultivated where players are no longer strangled by the invisible snake around the necks that we call pressure that haunted so many English internationals? You could say yes again. 

 

Extra time came and went with both sides coming close, with Southgate putting on Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 113th minute of extra time with penalties. “Too late” “He’s setting him up to fail” “What is he supposed to do with this much time”. All statements made by the Liverpool and England faithful during the game. Then came penalties.

 

 

If you are of a certain age then it would be a surprise to you that England was notoriously horrible at penalty shootouts. Now, England do not dread them. They embrace them. Like Alan Shearer said in commentary this is a new generation which does not feel pressure, as shown by Ivan Toney’s staring contest with Yann Sommer whilst he slotted the ball into the corner. 

 

After Pickford’s save from Akanji, it put England is the ascendancy and as fate would have it, Trent was the 5th penalty-taker. Two steps and then a confident penalty into the top right corner. Cue bedlam. England into another Semi-Final. Post-game, again, the mood seemed that England made it this far despite Southgate and not because of him. 

 

You can think he is clueless, inept and a yes man but stats do not lie. He has led England to the Semi-Finals in 3 of the last 4 competitions. He has navigated an England team and changed the perception of this national team. He has reconnected the media, fans and players alike to one goal and he has allowed himself to become a lightning rod for criticism and protected the players.

 

Even if he wins the competition, his time as England manager should be over. He should not make the same mistake Fernando Santos did after winning the 2016 Euros and stay behind only for his side to become stale and for his position to become untenable.

 

Robert Andrich: From Germany’s Third Tier to Invincibility at Leverkusen

 

Southgate has left a legacy but what his legacy is depends on the question of what does Southgate mean to you? Does he signify change and a successful period for the England National team? Or does he signify missed opportunities, with him being the biggest obstacle which has stopped this bunch of players from writing themselves into English folklore?

 

The decision is yours to make. But let us carry on singing his name for hopefully the next two games and in doing so, he can finally bring football home. Southgate you’re the one, you still turn me on, Football’s coming home again…

 

By: Abu Yasin / @abuy2j

Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Matthew Ashton – AMA / Michael Regan – The FA / Soccrates Images – Getty Images

 

EmailLinkedIn